CLICK HERE FOR AUCTION LISTING!Sheldon Mayer (1917-1991) was an American comics artist, writer, and editor. Mayer produced almost all of his comics work for the company that would become known as DC Comics. He is credited for being crucial in pushing Siegel and Shuster's rejected Superman comics strip and helping it become part of Action Comics #1. Lot contains 18 cartoons, believed to be some of Mayer's earliest work from his school paper. All have an approximate size of 9.5x6.25". Most on heavy paper and two on art board. Drawn in the early 1930s when Mayer was still in high school. Beginning when he was barely a teenager, Mayer was being published in juvenile comic magazines and by this point, in his late teenage years, his maturity as a cartoonist was evident. These 18 cartoons were likely done for his high school newspaper, as several mention the tribulations of a student and one even mentions his school, George Washington High School. Several cartoons also poke fun at marriage, and trying to make a living as an artist. Four contain racially sterotyped characters of the period. Each sketch is signed by Mayer, and some also have his doodles on the back. Pinholes in some margins and light toning to paper, overall in VG to Fine condition. Housed in a worn period envelope heavily doodled by Mayer w/patent date of 1923. From the Sheldon Mayer estate.
